Countdown to UFC 100: How We Got Here

Through all the doubts and criticism, mixed martial arts has finally made it.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is upon us. The biggest event in mixed martial arts history happens this Saturday night. Two title fights and a handful of what look to be very competitive matchups. Everyone is talking about the Frank Mir/Brock Lesnar rematch and Georges St. Pierre's biggest test against Thiago Alves. 

But UFC 100 isn't about the fights. It is about the sport and how it has outlasted the media backlash and political opposition to not only survive, but prosper. No matter the outcomes of the fights Saturday, every mixed martial arts fan should celebrate. 

On Saturday, mixed martial arts has officially arrived. It's legitimate. It's a successful business and a growing sport. It's been a long, tough road for the sport so it's time to look back on 10 crucial components that allowed the sport to reach the success it is enjoying. 

1. Dana White: Say what you will about the brash UFC president, but without Dana White, the UFC would have failed. Like White has stated many times, this was his destiny. He is unconventional, ruthless and often offensive, but for some reason the style worked. 

He viewed the UFC as a league just like the NFL. In order to grow, he had to bring in the best and most charismatic fighters. You don't see top football players in the CFL and Dana White is working everyday to make sure fans don't see top fighters outside the UFC. Is it cutthroat the way he bans clothing companies and locks fighters up to iron-clad contracts? Maybe. Is it effective? Yes.

The next president of the UFC will surely be a hotshot business school graduate, and that person should do just fine. But White has laid the entire foundation and turned a no-holds barred "human cockfight," into a legitimate and thrilling sport in the eye's of the public. 

2. State athletic commissions: Yeah, they can be difficult to deal with, but they reinvented the sport into an actual sport. There's not much skill involved when there are no weight classes and people can take cheap shots below the belt. That bloodsport mentality is stupid and classless. But throw in five weight classes, strict rules and time limits for each round and you have a sport. Without the regulations, MMA would have faded a long time ago. 

3. The Ultimate Fighter: I hate watching grown men act like children as they are locked in a house and denied any form of communication, but the show put the UFC on the map. It brought the best fighters no one had ever heard of into one place and let them compete in a tournament while expressing their personalities. It's been said time and time again, but Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner was the most important fight in UFC history. Griffin has gone on to be one of the most popular UFC fighters and paved the way for future TUF alumni. 

4. Gracie Ju Jitsu: The first time fans saw Royce Gracie take down opponents 50 pounds bigger than he was it left them in amazement. The amazement turned into a fascination for many and jujitsu became all the rage. The submission style grappling seemed fool proof and leveled the playing field. No matter how big, strong or fast an opponent was, Gracie jujitsu could always win a fight. 

5. Tito Ortiz: UFC's first true crossover star. He was in commercials, TV shows and movies. He dated celebrities, talked plenty of trash and made people interested in the sport. He was a walking, talking billboard for UFC. People either wanted to see him smash his opponent or get smashed by his opponent, but either way, people cared when Tito Ortiz walked into the octagon. 

6. The fans: Without the fans, clearly the sport would not succeed. But the main quality these fans have that is crucial to the sport is the way they accepted the lighter weight classes. Boxing fans seem to want to watch heavyweights and are still searching for an exciting heavyweight to get them interested in the sport. But MMA fans immediately took a liking to the "little" guys which has allowed the UFC to have stars in every division.

7. TapOut: I'm not a huge fan of their clothes, but it took the sport to the people. Fans would see TapOut on Tito Ortiz's shorts, then they would be able to buy a shirt. That fan would show their friends the new shirt, and all the sudden non-MMA fans buy a shirt and get interested. It's an unusual for a sponsor to mean so much to a sport, but the UFC and TapOut is a marriage that needed to happen for the sport to go mainstream. 

8. Globalization: The first time UFC stepped out of Las Vegas after it established itself, there were a lot of concerns. 60 or so shows later, the whole world wants to host a UFC event. By taking the show on the road, more people took a liking to the sport and even started training. Now fighters can come from England, Mexico, Japan, Russia, Australia or wherever. It's not just Brazilians against Americans. 

9. PRIDE: That's right, without PRIDE making waves in Japan, UFC wouldn't be half the product it is today. Competition always forces the best out of one another, and PRIDE made sure the UFC worked to put the best fights on each and every time out. Without PRIDE, UFC would not have moved with the urgency and efficiency it showed the last few years. 

10. Joe Silva: He is not as famous as Dana White, but just as important. Card after card, Joe Silva puts together the best matches possible as the UFC's booker. He has a great sense of finding the best prospects and matching them up with someone who can provide a challenge. He has done a great job overall when it comes to making title fights and is great at persuading fighters to take chances (ie Anderson Silva's move to 205 and Wanderli Silva to 185). His matchmaking is top notch and much harder than people give him credit for. 

There you have it. The top-10 reasons UFC has made it to magic number 100. Check back tomorrow for another UFC 100 special.   

A Chance for Holiday Greatness

Philadelphia native and heavyweight standout "Fast" Eddie Chambers will head to Germany July 4th to fight. To bad boxing won't take advantage of the situation to recapture an audience.

Some of the toughest times for sports fans is during the summer months. In the fall, there is baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Once baseball ends, the other three continue until February and when football ends, baseball starts up again to keep the trifecta in tact. 

But in the summer, baseball is in the middle of a 162-game season and that doesn't make for much excitement or drama. Fans clamor for the beginning of football season and just want baseball to get to the end of August to see if their team is still in the playoff hunt. 

This little July dry spell of sports action offers the perfect opportunity for boxing to try to capture the attention of mainstream sports fans. 

Browsing through the weekly boxing schedule as I often do, I found there was virtually no big fights happening on the July 4 weekend. The one "big" is taking place in Germany. But the fight does feature American heavyweight prospect "Fast" Eddie Chambers taking on undefeated European prospect Alexander Dimitrenko. 

This match isn't going to be a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but why not try to secure a deal with a network and broadcast it to an American audience. If the now-defunct mixed martial arts organization, Elite XC, can secure a deal with CBS, then there is no reason boxing promoters can't get it done either. 

Sure, it might require them to pony up some money and they wont make nearly as much on pay-per-view, but the long-term benefits of occasionally broadcasting on a network channel would pay huge dividends. 

Chambers vs Dimitrenko isn't necessarily going to be a great showcase of boxing, but you don't always need massive pay-per-view quality fights. Broadcasting this fight would be a classic American story on America's most patriotic day. 

An American heavyweight from Philadelphia travels to Germany to face an undefeated European prospect. Sounds a lot like a real-life Rocky Balboa story and it would be an easy way to market the fight and get the public interested. 

A lot of mixed martial arts booming growth and success among sports fans can be attributed to how accessible the UFC has been. Season after season, the UFC produces the show "The Ultimate Fighter." It's an easy way for sports fans to slowly understand MMA and get to know some of the potential future stars. 

I think the reason boxing is so hesitant to go back to network TV is because of the stronghold it has established on HBO and Showtime as well as pay-per-view. The gambling industry will always support boxing, but many boxing fans are not high rollers and many sports fans just want to see a good, old-fashioned fight now and then. 

Broadcast the fights of the Eddie Chambers of the world, or Sergio Mora who is already somewhat known by the public from his run on The Contender and is itching to get back in the ring. 

Get "The Latin Snake" an opponent and show the fight on NBC. Or take a second-generation star, like George Foreman's son, and let him get some national exposure. It would definitely draw some interest. 

There is not a whole lot of exciting sports happening around the 4th of July weekend and boxing has a great opportunity to get back in the public eye. I hope come next year this time, I will be able to see a real firework show for free, on network TV. 

Another legend lost

Alexis Arguello meant as much to boxing as Michael Jackson did to music. His legacy in the ring and for Nicaragua will be remembered for years to come.

For some reason, I get into pretty bad spells about updating this blog. It does not seem like it should be difficult, yet I fail at it more than I would like. 

But at least I'm not Drew Fickett. 

The once highly regarded and very talented UFC fighter continues to struggle with just living a successful and respectful life. Back in 2005, MMA fans believed Fickett could be one of the top fighters in the welterweight division for years to come. His record was a sterling 34-5 and he had victories over top names such as Josh Koscheck and Kenny Florian. 

Now Fickett can't even beat a Breathalizer test (or his opponents since he has lost seven of his last nine fights). But the latest downfall in his embarrassing career came recently after he failed a pre-fight physical when he showed up drunk. That's right, Fickett thought it would be OK to fight drunk. 

I wonder why people scoff at the sport and compare it to bar fights. Maybe it's cause a fighter like Fickett is probably more drunk than people in an actual bar fight before he gets ready for competition. It could also explain why he has lost seven of his last nine fights. 

I hope Fickett walks away from the sport, gets his life back on track and is able to find some happiness. But he really needs to leave the sport because it's embarrassing to the other fighters, promoters and fans who go to bat to try to defend the purity and sportsmanship of MMA. 

But that opening rant was just meant to make me feel better about missing out on updating this blog about some big things that happened in the world of combat sports. I will just touch on two of the bigger stories. 

The Ultimate Finale: Fight of the Year

Two big stories came out of the June 20 finale of season 9. One was that mixed martial arts in England is alive and well. Two members from Team UK took home the title of Ultimate Fighter. 

Ross Pearson pulled off an upset against Andre Winner and looked tough, but I don't think he is talented enough to ever be a serious contender in the UFC. Likewise, James Wilks really shocked me with his dominant performance over DaMarques Johnson. Wilks displayed very good boxing and composure. He has the chance to keep improving into a fighter who could be tough to beat. 

The real story was the classic fight between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida in the main event. If you have never seen Guida fight, you need to. His cardio is out of this world and he never quits or slows down for anything. Sanchez ran right at Guida at the opening of the round and threw devastating combinations that rocked Guida and had him covering up. 

As the round progressed, the fight moved to the center of the cage, where Sanchez landed one of the hardest kicks to the head I have seen and it dropped Guida, but in a moment that could only be described as a miracle, Guida bounced to his feet and kept going like nothing happened. 

From then on, the fight was a war. Both men were bloody and bruised and pushed the pace for 15 minutes. At the end of the fight, Guida bounced up to his feet and ran around the cage with energy to burn. Sanchez took the split decision. 

It was one of those special fights that only happen once or twice a year, so if you get the chance, check it out. It's what makes the sport so great. Look for Sanchez to challenge for the lightweight championship after the Kenny Florian/BJ Penn title fight. 

The Loss of a Legend

The music world lost its biggest legend in Michael Jackson and boxing lost one of the greatest of all-time in Alexis Arguello. Unfortunately, I was too young to see Arguello in his prime when he boxed in the early '80s, but the stories and vinatge videos are legendary. 

His fights against Ray Mancini and Aaron Pryor are some of the best ever. His fight against Pryor in Miami could very well be the best match ever. He was a champion in three different weight classes and was one round away from being the first man to be a champion in four. 

Technically, he was brilliant. And what Muhammad Ali meant for Americans, Arguello meant for Nicaraguans. He was so politically active in fact, that assassination threats were a common occurrence for Arguello. He even became mayor of Managua.

He was a great ambassador for boxing and was best friends with Pryor, his bitter in-ring rival. A true class act in a violent sport. But like Michael Jackson, he had his demons. He struggled with drug addiction and went bankrupt, forcing him to come back for two matches in the early '90s. 

The death is believed to be a suicide. He may never had conquered those demons, and its a tragic and sad end to an important life. But what he meant for boxing and Nicaragua will live on for years to come. 

I am going to try to update this blog as often as I can, once again. I hope to succeed ... but if I fail ... well at least I'm not Drew Fickett. 

This is how to not run a sport

50 Cent looks good with all of Mayweather's former titles. Too bad the former pound-for-pound king is taking forever to get back in the ring to try and get them back. 

So in my last blog, I sung the praises of combat sports, including boxing. It's a sport that never really lets me down — except for the times when it never actually happens of course. 

Many people say boxing is a dying sport. The first reason it will never die is because the Vegas gamblers will never leave and it has been Vegas that has always supported the sport. The second reason it won't die is because there will always be a Muhammed Ali, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and now Manny Pacquiao. 

However, it may never catch on with mainstream attention again because it is hard to follow when big-name fighters pull out of bouts. This trend has been very popular within the last month. 

First we have David Haye pull out his highly anticipated fight with heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko. This one is especially heartbreaking since Haye was a breath of fresh air in a very stale division and he had talked so much trash, that it was sure to be a heated bout. 

Haye was devastated he had to pull out because of a back injury, and I truly believe he wanted the fight. He claims he wants to retire in about two years, though he is still very young, so we may never get to see this match happen. 

Haye is expected to fight in September, while Klitschko is going to defend on June 20 against Ruslan Chagaev. This will make it difficult for both fighters to even up their schedules to meet in the future. 

As if losing an exciting heavyweight bout wasn't enough, the biggest fight of the summer was recently canceled after Floyd Mayweather pulled out of his comeback fight against top pound-for-pound champion Juan Manuel Marquez. 

Pretty Boy Floyd severely injured his ribs and will not be able to meet JMM anymore. This, coupled with Manny Pacquiao's insane request that Miguel Cotto fight him at 143 pounds, makes it seem like everyone is trying to avoid each other. 

Pacman and Mayweather both know they can't afford losses if they want to set up their superfight, but at the same time neither man wants to fight each other right now. There is a good chance Pacman could get out-muscled by Cotto if he moved up to welterweight, and there is a good chance JMM could have beaten Mayweather. 

So for the time being, two of boxing's biggest stars will dance around negotiations while fans wait for something to develop. 

And if having all this turmoil among boxing's elite wasn't enough, one if it's fastest rising stars, Amir Khan, pulled out of his upcoming bout. But unlike the other fighters, Khan didn't want to scratch plans all together. Instead of fighting on June 27, the young prospect will get into the ring on July 18.

If boxing ever wants to draw a large fan base again, promoters are going to have to work harder to deliver on their promises of big fights. Injuries happen, that is to be expected. But if one happens, reschedule immediately so fans are not robbed of fights. 

If rescheduling is absolutely impossible, do your best to attract other stars such as Shane Mosley, to step in. I know it's not an easy task, but the fans deserve it and in the long run it will help the sport. 

A Life Lesson

There is no way Miguel Cotto wanted to fight another round in that condition, but he did anyways

Rocky Balboa said it best: It's not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep going. 

It's a lesson in boxing that separates the prospects from the champions and the champions from the legends. But it's also a lesson that applies to much more than the epic battles that happen in the squared circle. It applies to all facets of life. 

As you can clearly see, the content on this blog has not been updated for the last month and a half. The reason for the absence is because life hit me harder than any punch any boxer has ever thrown. It's a blow no one should ever have to experience. 

So for the last month and a half I have been picking myself up off the canvas and trying to get back on track. I haven't had a whole lot of interest in the fight game during that time, but I decided to watch it again last weekend, which brought me back here. 

I watched Cheick Kongo get absolutely dismantled by Cain Velasquez at UFC 99 and it made me think of that important lesson. No matter how hard Kongo got hit and no matter how much punishment he was taking, he didn't give up. He could have easily stayed down, but he tried to get to his feet and he tried to fight even when he was pinned on his back. 

He wouldn't let Velasquez beat him.

Then the main event saw Wanderli Silva take on Rich Franklin. Once again, Silva was exhausted and battered, but in the closing seconds of the fight, he threw everything he had at Franklin in one last effort to win. 

After watching those fights, it reminded me of why martial arts is more than a sport and why it's a lifestyle. 

Then there was the Miguel Cotto vs Joshua Clottey boxing match. Cotto's left eyebrow was a bloody mess for the whole fight and it bothered him to no end, but he never stopped. Clottey later fell to the canvas and hurt his knee. He was immobilized for the next few rounds, but he hung in there. 

Both men fought through adversity and never quit. 

At the end of the day, a sport is just a sport, but when it comes to combat sports, it teaches you to never quit. You don't need to win, you don't even need to be technically sound, but the one rule is don't give up on yourself. 

Boxing pushes your body to places you never thought you could go — life pushes you into areas you don't want to go.

Kongo lost badly and will now have to start all over if he wants to get to his dream of winning the title. But he will be back and give it his best shot again, and that's the beauty of the sport.

Sure, I haven't written for the last two months, but it's time to come back. Not because what I write is important, but because writing is what I do and now is no time to give up on things. 

The ring is a scary place to return to after a bad loss and life is a scary place after a bad loss too. But whatever happens, always walk back in. You might get knocked out again, but if you keep coming back, you'll get your win.

I don't know when I'll get my win or how hard I can hit life back, but I do know I can get hit really hard and keep going. So if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get going.   

The Force is Strong with "Darth" Bader

Fighting to his strengths once again was Ryan "Darth" Bader

The young guns were out Wednesday night for what was another exciting Fight Night on Spike TV. Everyone loves watching the big stars work their mojo in the spotlight, but one can't help make a case for the display put on by this card of young scrappers.

The main card was as follows (one being the opening bout and four the main event):
*Fighters I chose to win tonight are in blue
1. Junie "The Lunatic" Browning Vs Cole Miller
2. Tyson Griffin Vs Rafael dos Anjos
3. Ryan "Darth" Bader Vs Carmelo Marrero
4. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann Vs Carlos "The Natural Killer" Condit (WEC 170lb. Champ)

In the first fight of the night Junie Browning, who recently won Fight of the Night honors, faced off against formidable opponent Cole Miller. Being deemed overrated by Browning, Cole had some extra fuel to add to his burning fire. Browning figured he would have his way tonight, but boy was he wrong. Miller caught Browning with a guillotine, choke finally silencing the mouthy Browning two minutes into the fight. Maybe Browning ought to think before he speaks. "Who's overrated now?" Well I'll just say it for Cole; Junie Browning is.

The second fight of the night pitting Tyson Griffin against Rafael dos Anjos was packed full of action. Griffin clearly had all intentions of keeping this fight on the feet as he was swinging for home runs left and right. When the two went down to the mat in the first round, dos Anjos utilized a nifty compression knee lock that was dangerously close to sending Griffin home early. Phased a bit by this maneuver, Griffin still had the last laugh as his striking and inside leg kicks eventually lead to his majority decision over Rafael dos Anjos. Other than a few kimura attempts and the compression knee lock that failed, dos Anjos looked absent in this fight. An excellent display of heart by Griffin was shown to battle through that lock in the first round. This fight deserves my Fight of the Night honors.

The third fight of the night was one that looked great on paper, but amounted to embarrassment. Marrero appeared ready to go before this fight began, but it really got away from him faster than the blink of an eye. Ryan Bader was ferocious! His relentless takedowns, stemming from his accomplished wrestling background, ripped through Marrero's confidence. I love when a fighter utilizes his strengths to win a fight and Darth did just that. Round after round like a machine, Bader just kept at it. It was as if Marrero was frozen in time or was the dummy Bader ripped apart during his training. All in all, a great fight for young Bader and an even better showcase of his abilities as he also demonstrated the know how to pull off an armbar. Bravo Ryan! Keep moving on up.

The main event of the night pitted Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann against Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit. In my mind, this fight had all the making for a pay-per-view event. The bout was nonstop action from start to finish. The crowd was truly swayed in favor of Condit as any positive he had was followed by cheering and support from the crowd. This fight was too close to call the whole way as both fighters exchanged their blows. Condit drew first blood, literally, as he opened Kampmann's face with either his elbows or the vicious knee he planted as Kampmann reached his feet. As the fight went on, Condit had one problem: anything Condit could do, Kampann could do better. After finally getting into the octagon, Condit took the wrong walk, leaving Kampmann to reign victorious with a split decision.

It has been awhile since the UFC had a live fight night and I don't think I'm alone when I say thank goodness it's back. The fight card and the action delivered tonight proved once again that Fight Nights are always a great night.

UFC Fight Night Predictions

There is a reason Carlos Condit is known as The Natural Born Killer. I expect the former WEC champion to make a statement in his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann in tonight's main event.

It's time for another installment of one of my favorite UFC events: Fight Night. These free shows on Spike TV are a great way to showcase young talent and tonight's event in Nashville, Tenn., is no different.

I wish the UFC had a long enough time slot to show the Gleison Tibau vs Jeremy Stephens fight as well as the Ricardo Almeida vs Matt Horwich contest, but nonetheless, there is a great night of fights for free so I won't complain.

If you're looking to make a quick buck or just impress your friends, here are the picks to stick with.

Junie Browning vs Cole Miller
This should be an interesting fight, but Miller is the man to go with. Browning has received high praise and has even been compared to Anderson Silva, but at this point it is all hype. Miller is 14-3, has UFC experience and has fought tough competition. Browning has three fights under his belt and if he gets in trouble, I don't see him having the composure to escape.

Miller has proven to be a tough fighter to put away and that should be good enough to escape any troubles he might get into if the fight hits the floor. Browning is a classic ground-and-pound wrestler with good stand-up, but Miller has an underrated jab and submission game. Expect Miller to secure an armbar in the second round.

Miller wins via armbar in the second round

Tyson Griffin vs Rafael dos Anjos
Straight up, Griffin is a machine. His wrestling is tremendous and his cardio and strength are through the roof. The last time dos Anjos stepped in the octagon, he ate a Jeremy Stephens uppercut that knocked him into 2010. While Griffin won't wow anyone with his striking, I think he is good enough to win the fight on the mat despite dos Anjos' jujitsu skills.

In the end, even though Griffin lost his most recent match to Sean Sherk, I think he is more seasoned and prepared. Dos Anjos could be a great fighter, but it looks like he has a lot to improve on before he is ready to move up the ranks in the UFC.

Griffin wins via TKO stoppage in the first round

Ryan Bader vs Carmelo Marrero
Bader is yet another product of the Arizona wrestling scene. Arizona has been turning out hot prospects in MMA recently including Bader, C.B. Dolloway and Cain Velasquez. I expect Bader to be in top condition and ready for a physical fight. Marrero has always been a favorite of mine, but he has a ceiling and he has reached it. Marrero has surprisingly good submissions and is a large light heavyweight who used to compete at heavyweight.

Even with the submission advantage and the size advantage, I still thing Bader is too powerful and has much more potential. Marrero is a trooper and won't go down easy. Bader might even get in trouble a few times this fight, but he will walk away with a decision victory.

Bader wins by unanimous decision

Carlos Condit vs Martin Kampmann
This is an absolute steal for fight fans. This is definitely a pay-per-view quality fight and I am excited about it. Condit, the dominant WEC welterweight champion, will make his highly anticipated UFC debut against former middleweight Martin Kampmann. Condit is one of the most violent, aggressive fighters in the game and is skilled on the feet and on the ground. Kampmann can, quite simply, kick a tree down.

Condit made a name for himself in the WEC as he defended his championship while tearing through tough opponents such as John Alessio, Brock Larson, Carlo Prater and Hiromitsu Miura. His version of Muay Thai is as explosive as any and his long limbs make him a dangerous submission artist.

Kampmann has fought tough competition of his own, including a win over UFC middleweight No. 1 contender Thales Leites. Kampmann gained a reputation for being a dangerous kickboxer. After a severe knee injury he attempted a comeback against Nate Marquardt but came up short and opted to move down to welterweight.

I would be surprised if this fight hit the ground as I am sure Kampmann will look to use leg kicks while Condit will search for the Thai clinch to throw short elbows and knees. If it does hit the ground, Condit will have the advantage, though Kampmann is better than people realize on the mat. I think Condit lives up to his name of Natural Born Killer and puts Kampmann away with a barrage of knees and elbows in the final round.

Condit wins via TKO stoppage in the third round

Time to TUF it out again

Another season of The Ultimate Fighter is set to debut tomorrow night. I really hope it has grown out of the MTV Real World stage by now. 

It has been three months since Efrain Escudero and Ryan Bader won The Ultimate Fighter. I guess that means it's time to sit through another season of the UFC tournament/ reality show. 

I absolutely love the format of single-elimination tournaments in mixed martial arts. Tournaments are exciting and they really show the fans at home all the aspects a fighter brings to the table since they have the opportunity to fight multiple times. 

However, I hate reality TV. I hate having to watch contestants such as Chris Leben, Jesse Taylor, Junie Browning, CB Dolloway and a slew of others act like irresponsible children just so they can stay in the limelight and find a way into the UFC in the event they don't win the tournament. 

In fact I hate it so much that after season 3 I would just TiVo the episodes and fast forward to the last 15 minutes so I could see the fights. But the truth is the show loses quite a bit of value by just watching the fights. It's nice to get to know the fighters and see the sacrifices and training they have to go through, but it could be done in a much more effective way. 

I didn't even watch the last season of TUF because I couldn't stomach the MTV Real World junk it was stuffing down the viewers' throats. It is time for Dana White and Spike TV to realize that the UFC is a legitimate sport and needs to portray itself in a professional manner. 

This season shouldn't cater to 15-year-old boys wanting to start a fight club, it should cater to a mature audience that expects to see elite athletes treat their profession and each other with respect. I have high hopes for this season since Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping are coaching teams from the United States and England, respectively. 

I think that format of country vs country will give the fighters a greater purpose and they wont be so quick to make fools of themselves since they have a country to fight for and represent. 

The best way to present a show like this would be to follow the example set by season 1 of The Contender. The boxing show that was produced by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard was a unique look into how important winning is to a fighter and how much they are willing to sacrifice. 

I liked the touch of seeing the fighters spar and train, but also being able to live with their families so they have a constant reminder of what they were there for. They weren't there to get drunk, destroy a house and pick fights. They were there to do a job and win the tournament to give their family a better life.

The UFC doesn't need to go to that extreme to keep The Ultimate Fighter fresh, but it does need to go that direction. Growing up is a part of life and it is time for the UFC to grow out of its teenage angst stage and into a more professional one. 

I am excited for tomorrow night's debut episode; I just hope it doesn't let me down. 

Huerta Has It Right

At 25 years old, Roger Huerta is ready to hang up his gloves after going 6-1 in the UFC. The top-ranked fighter will give Hollywood a shot and I think thats a great decision. 

All good things must come to an end. It's a phrase that has been proven true time and time again. It's also a concept many sports fans fear. 

It was a sad day when Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls. It was a sad day when Cal Ripken Jr. called it a career. And it will be a sad day when Tiger Woods sinks his last putt. 

And while it is sad to see fighters retire, fans should not criticize a fighter for leaving the game early, instead we should all be thankful for the contributions and happy for the person. Floyd Mayweather Jr. drew a lot of criticism for leaving boxing as an undefeated fighter after defeating Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8, 2007.

Mayweather was only 30 years old at the time and was still in his prime. Many boxing enthusiasts and experts criticized "Pretty Boy Floyd" for retiring while tough challenges against Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto were still out there. 

But at 39-0 and with millions of dollars in the bank, I could not criticize the young fighter. He paid his dues and more importantly, he made his money. Boxing has always been a way to improve a tough situation and Mayweather did just that. He knew he was financially set and he still had his health. It was a great move to retire. 

Now the mixed martial arts media has disapproved of Roger Huerta's decision to leave UFC after his next fight to pursue opportunities in acting and modeling. The Mexican-American fighter is 6-1 in the UFC and was on the brink of being a top-10 lightweight. 

But going 6-1 in the UFC is usually good enough for some decent money and fighting opponents such as Clay Guida and Kenny Florian secures even a bigger purse. So with money in his pocket and his fame established, he decided to leave fighting for a while to pursue entertainment. And at 25 years old, this is his best shot to succeed in Hollywood. 

Once again, while I would love to see Huerta continue to fight, I have to agree with the decision. No person should ever endanger their well-being for longer than they need to. MMA and boxing are both dangerous sports. When a fighter feels they have accomplished what they need to, then there is no shame in calling it a career. 

Does the UFC lightweight division take a hit with the absence of Huerta? Yes. But that gives another fighter the chance to realize their dreams and make the type of money that can support their families. Manny Pacquiao became boxing's biggest star after Mayweather left. Everyone wins except for the fans, but sometimes that is OK. 

But for every Huerta and Mayweather, there is a Jesse Taylor. The former Ultimate Fighter cast member has been fighting in the small show circuit on a monthly basis and racking up wins. With another kid on the way, he said this is his way to make a steady living. Since he is winning and has an expanding family, the drive is there to fight as often as possible. 

I will never criticize a fighter for leaving the game at an early age. If a person can use boxing or MMA as a way to achieve a better life and walk away with health intact, than more power to that person. 

Mayweather is about to come out of retirement and fight in as early as July. He has the itch again, but he knows he doesn't need to take a beating four times a year anymore and I think that is a good thing. 

Huerta will be back. But for now, he should give his body a rest and enjoy any success he can get from his five years of professional fighting. And when he wants to come back, I will welcome him gladly. 

Tough love for California boxing

This young boy could be world champion one day. But he lives in California where amateur boxing is now banned because some crooked individuals exploited kids like him. 

The economy is in the dumps and the main reason is greed.

 The same kind of greed that possesses a person to send two 8-year-old kids into the ring to box each other so he can make a quick buck by inviting his rich friends over to gamble on the atrocity he created. 

And because of those exploitations happening in San Francisco-area gyms, amateur boxing has been banned in California. The implications of this decision made by USA Boxing are huge. 

USA Boxing made the correct decision to send a loud-and-clear message to the rest of the country that sending young boys to box for gambling purposes is a serious infraction and will in no way be tolerated. But for the kids and rising prospects in California's boxing circuit, this news is crippling. 

They must suffer because of the stupidity and illegal activities of a few terrible people. California turns out hot prospects faster than almost any other state and the amount of world-champion level fighters is astounding. Boxing could see a recession in top-level talent if the ban remains in place for the next few years.

There are more than 650 boxers from California listed in boxrec.com. The next Oscar De La Hoya (a California boxing circuit product) may never be discovered because of this ban.

While missing out on potential world champions is a blow to boxing, the real worry should be about the kids. Even if there were no boxers from California to go on to win a world championship, at least it would have served as an outlet to stay off the streets. 

There is a reason 8-year-olds learn to box at a young age and most of the time it is because their parents want to keep them out of gangs and give them an outlet to learn discipline. I'm sure the kids can still take boxing lessons, but with no amateur circuit, there is not much chance the kid could mature and use boxing as a way to fight out of a bad situation. 

Now parents will be scared to even send their kids to a boxing gym because a few people decided to betray their trust and endanger the lives of their children. It was a shocking and sad day for boxing on Monday when USA Boxing made the announcement, but it needs to be a wake up call. 

There is a nasty, nasty underbelly in boxing and its about time someone starts cleaning it up and its better that USA Boxing is taking that initiative. It's one thing if you want to play politics and keep a professional fighter from competing for a well-deserved title shot or lowball a boxer on a purse, but when you endanger kids then you have crossed the line. 

Boxing is supposed to save kids from ending up in a bad situation; its not meant to trap them in a worse one.  

I love this sport, so it hurts when bad people leech of the kids and ambush an institution that has served a noble purpose in society for so many years. And anyone who doesn't think boxing can save lives is just wrong. 

I hope Boxing USA can restore order in California so the kids can stay off the streets and the fans can witness the rise of another great champion. 

Just Like Peanut Butter and Chicken Noodle Soup

This jar of peanut butter should not be mixed with chicken noodle soup. They are great individually, but not combined ... just like boxing and mixed martial arts.

Some things in life are just not meant to be matched together and Roy Jones Jr. gave another perfect example of this lesson on Saturday. 

Jones tried his hand at the promoting side of the fight game and combined boxing matches and mixed martial arts contests on the same card. It has been done before, but never in front of a crowd as large as the one in Pensacola, Fla., and never on a successful pay-per-view. 

It was a courageous effort, but it also failed miserably. 

For some reason, Jones fell into the mindset that most of the general public holds. Most people think that if someone is a fan of boxing, they would naturally enjoy mixed martial arts. I am passionate about both sports, but they are two very different sports. 

Just because someone likes baseball, doesn't mean they want to sit through a softball game. Both sports are similar, but there are still major differences that separate the two enough to make it so both sports wouldn't be played in front of the same audience at the same time. 

I couldn't see a professional softball team walking out on Wrigley Field right after the Cubs finished playing. Most people would get up and leave. The same thing goes for boxing and mixed martial arts, mainly because the two sports bring out each others shortcomings when displayed side by side. 

When I watch a boxing match, it's very hard to switch right over to a mixed martial arts bout because I realize the fighters competing in MMA are no where near the boxers that the professionals are and it makes it difficult to watch. 

If I am watching some MMA, I have a hard time switching to boxing because I know that the chance for an upset or flash knockout is much less likely and it is impossible for fighters to switch the realm of the fight from the feet to the ground. 

So while boxing represents the technique and precision I love in fighting, MMA represents the surprises and variety I love in fighting. I see the two sports as completely different and love them both for completely different reasons. 

Aside from the fact that the two sports bring out the flaws in one another, it is also very hard to present and produce a show with both sports being showcased. 

The announcers did their best to explain and inform the audience about everything that was happening in the MMA fights, but it came across forced and like a lecture. It becomes a little stale when the announcer has to talk through a broadcast explaining why fighters throw knees and what an armbar is. 

I know I would shut off a baseball broadcast if they explained what a curveball does every single inning. 

It was nice to see Jones dominate Omar Sheika with fundamentally sound boxing. But the boxing made Din Thomas look like a sparring partner. It was nice to see Thomas finish in exciting and quick fashion. But Thomas' finish made Jones look boring. 

The styles will always be too contradicting to ever put them together on the same event. 

I like peanut butter and I enjoy chicken noodle soup. If I put them together, I would hate them both. 

I like boxing and MMA. If I put them together ... well ... I guess my order of peanut butter chicken noodle soup is ready. 

Klitschkos: Kings of the Mediocre

David Haye might be the last chance for the heavyweight division to produce a true challenge to the seemingly unbeatable Klitschko brothers. 

I have a good amount of schooling and one of the lessons that has been passed down from generation to generation is Newton's Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

So after watching Vitali Klitschko massacre yet another opponent, I was left wondering how boxing's heavyweight division has managed to defy this law since Lennox Lewis walked away from the sport. I think heavyweight boxing has made a scientific breakthrough. We can call it Klitschkos' Law.

Klitschkos' Law: For every action taken by a heavyweight boxer named Klitschko there will be a reaction, but definitely not an equal one as the person on the receiving end of the action by Klitschko must box as if they were completely incapable before falling on their face.

That's a great law if your name is Klitschko, but for boxing fans, it's definitely not as good as Newton's Law. When I see Klitschko pounding an opponent (the action), I want to see his opponent fight back with all he has (the hopeful opposite and equal reaction.)

Now I can't blame this on the Klitschkos, it's not their fault they are superb boxers. But without stiff competition, even if it is only one rival, they can never be considered great champions and that is a shame because they are very good. 

Magic Johnson had Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky had Mario Lemieux, Michael Jordan had Reggie Miller and Muhammad Ali had Joe Frazier. But the Klitschkos ... well they have Samuel Peter? Sultan Ibragimov? Shannon Briggs?

While they are decent boxers, they definitely don't strike fear into their opponents. Vitali Klitschko's domination of Samuel Peter and Juan Carlos Gomez should serve as another reminder that heavyweights are going to need to rely on a lot more than just power. Often times young prospects in the division can beat much lesser fighters just with power, so they are not prepared for boxers at the skill of the Klitschkos. 

And there have been some prospects in the past such as Chris Byrd and Joe Mesi, but neither man panned out to be good enough to take down the mighty Klitschkos. The heavyweight division needs a charismatic and athletic fighter to start wreaking havoc. With all the strength and conditioning programs available to athletes, there should be no reason for heavyweight boxers to look like Butterbean anymore. 

The possible Chosen Ones

Great Britian's David Haye was a dominant cruiserweight for years as he won every major title and compiled 22 victories with 21 of those ending in knockouts. He is young, confident and athletic. So confident in fact, that he already announced he would retire by the age 0f 31, giving him three years to dominate the heavyweight division. 

He hasn't wasted anytime as he knocked out Monte Barrett in his first fight at heavyweight. With only one win in the division under his belt, Haye is about to get his dream fight against Wladimir Klitschko. The fight should be officially announced in a few days and many expect it will be held on June 30 in Germany. 

Haye could capture the world's imagination with a knockout victory over Klitschko and the heavyweight division could finally have some true competition at the top. 

Chris Arreola 

He already has all the charisma needed to be a star. He is an American born fighter with a Mexican heritage, which you don't often see in the heavyweight division. He just recently started fighting tougher competition around 2006, but he is a knockout artist and would be a breath of fresh air as champion. 

In June 2008, he had his biggest win to date against fellow undefeated prospect Chazz Witherspoon. The fight was an unofficial eliminator to see how America's next heavyweight star would be. If Arreola is focused and hungry, he could bring real competition to the Klitschkos.

Aleksander Povetkin

When talking about a guy with "the look," Povetkin won't top the list. But I am just searching for a guy who can really challenge either of the Klitschko brothers and this guy has the boxing skill, but his physical dimensions could end up hurting him. 

He is a very smart fighter and knows how to exchange on the inside, but at 6'2" he would struggle against the Klitschkos who have the reach of a terradactyl. But still, he is a fresh face in the division and has great skills. He wouldn't have as good of a chance as Haye or Arreola, but he is capable of an upset.

Andrei Arlovski

Yes, the same Arlovski who was heavyweight champion in the UFC. He trains in boxing with Freddie Roach so there is no doubt he is ready to compete at the professional level. He is chiseled from stone and is faster than any heavyweight in boxing. 

His combination of speed and power would be overwhelming for either Klitschko who have grown accustomed to simply going through the motions as they dispose of their opposition. As long as Arlovski keeps the fundamentals in mind, I think he could have a chance and he would definitely draw the American audience back into boxing.  

March Madness: Fear The Stretchy Pants

Shinya Aoki makes people bend in mysterious ways. It's no wonder fighters fear him and his stretchy pants and it's no wonder I consider him the best lightweight in the world.

When 16 fighters with this much talent square off against each other, anything can happen. But there is one man who I think is the standard for consistency when it comes to dominating opponents and that is Shinya Aoki. 

Gumby wins this tournament after some tough battles and once again, fighters must learn to respect the stretchy pants. 

Pool A: #1. BJ Penn vs #4. Joe Stevenson

We saw this fight happen last year and it wasn't a pretty sight. Penn made Stevenson spout blood like Old Faithful Gyser. I think Penn uses that violent streak of his and tears up Stevenson on the feet. Penn's boxing is top notch and would overwhelm Stevenson again as Penn gets a knockout. 

Pool A: #2. Sean Sherk vs #3. Josh Thomson

These are two physical, strong wrestlers going head to head. Thomson relies more on his speed when wrestling whereas Sherk is all about the power. I think its a very close contest, but I would expect Sherk to win a decision as he should be able to hold the dominant position for most of the fight. 

Pool Championship: BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk

We have also seen this matchup once before, and once again, it was all Penn. I think Sherk would waste a lot of energy trying to take Penn to the mat, but Penn's superior balance and striking would keep Sherk off balance and Penn would win with another knockout.

Pool B: #1. Shinya Aoki vs #4. Jamie Varner

Varner knows how to strike and box very well, but he is pretty helpless on the ground. Aoki on the other hand is not very good on his feet and has a suspect chin, but he never has a problem getting his opponent to the mat even though they try their best to avoid it. Aoki catches Varner in an armbar for a submission victory.

Pool B: #2. Diego Sanchez vs #3. Gilbert Melendez

This is a dream matchup. Both men have cardio through the roof and love to fight at a fast pace. Both men would definitely have their moments of greatness in the fight, but in the end, it has been Sanchez who has folded under the pressure of highly regarded opponents more often. I think Melendez pulls out a razor thin decision. 

Pool Championship: Shinya Aoki vs Gilbert Melendez

This would be a fun match in theory, but the problem is Melendez would have to take the fight to the mat so he could use his ground-and-pound. Once the fight hit the mat, Aoki would have little problem working off his back and securing a triangle choke for the victory. 

Pool C: #1. Eddie Alvarez vs #4. Tyson Griffin

The best American fighter no one has heard of could make his name in the U.S. with a win over one of UFC's hottest prospects, Tyson Griffin. Both are strong in wrestling, but Alvarez has beaten some of the best in the world and he would use that experience to outclass the tough Griffin and show the UFC what they have been missing. 

Pool C: #2. Joachim Hansen vs #3. Takanori Gomi

Both men just want to hit people hard so this fight would be a barn burner. The Fireball Kid was the best in the world at one point, but Hansen seems to be more in his prime while Gomi is beginning to fade. I think Gomi tires late in the fight and Hansen wins by knockout. 

Pool Championship: Eddie Alvarez vs Joachim Hansen

Hansen is a tremendous striker and a tough guy, but he has a ceiling and there isn't much he can do about it. If Alvarez has a ceiling, he hasn't shown it yet. I think this is another grueling fight, but Alvarez manages to win by decision just like the first time these two met. 

Pool D: #1. Kenny Florian vs #4. Mitsuhiro Ishida

Ishida is about as tough as a 4-seed can get, so this is tough for KenFlo. Ishida's best quality is his relentlessness, but that won't be enough to overcome Florian's efficiency. KenFlo has proven to be a student of the game as he is one of the best at finishing fights, whether its on the feet or on the mat. Florian gets a submission victory. 

Pool D: #2. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti vs Tatsuya Kawajiri

BJ Penn may be nicknamed "The Prodigy," but it is Calvancanti who has the most potential. Kawajiri has the power to floor anyone, but Calvancanti is so well-rounded he always has an escape and a way to win. I think JZ gets the win by submission. 

Pool Championship: Kenny Florian vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

These are two of the most well-rounded fighters in the game, but I think Calvancanti's athleticism is too much. Florian is a very smart fighter, but he can be limited athletically and that is a big hurdle when facing JZ. I think the pace is too fast and JZ wins by decision. 

Semifinal: #1. BJ Penn vs #1. Shinya Aoki

This is the fight everyone wants to see. This might be the best matchup in all of MMA regardless of weight class right now. Two world champion caliber jujitsu fighters squaring off. Penn has a huge advantage on his feet, but no one finishes submissions like Aoki. Penn hits Aoki with a big shot that sends him to the mat, but Aoki scrambles and submits the man who is impossible to submit. Aoki wins by the skin of his teeth. 

Semifinal: Eddie Alvarez vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

The two best prospects in the lightweight division go head-to-head. At this point, the only two things separating these two is submissions. I think Calvancanti is a little more skilled when it comes to putting opponents away on the mat. Alvarez has power and great ground-and-pound, but he is still open to getting submitted and I think JZ does just that and gets the win. 

Final: Shinya Aoki vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

JZ would get another crack at Aoki, but I think the result remains the same. The first time they met, the fight was ruled a no contest after JZ was disqualified for illegal elbows. The second time they fought, Aoki won by decision. This time, I think Aoki wins by submission. JZ struggled to contain Aoki on the ground and this time he gets caught.

Champion: Shinya Aoki  

March Madness: The Lightweights

BJ Penn lets everyone know he is the No. 1 overall seed in the "First Round March Madness" lightweight tournament. His armpit probably doesn't smell good though. 

Well, I got swept up in the NCAA March Madness tournament on Friday and Saturday, which stopped me from finishing my fictional "March Madness" tournaments. But I have saved the best for last as the lightweights square off. 

The lightweight division has the most talent by far on a global scale. While the UFC likes to tout its light heavyweight division, if it signed the international fighters in my tournament the lightweight division would easily be its crown jewel. 

Unlike the middleweights and welterweights, a clear No. 1 does not exist. BJ Penn is obviously a dominant fighter, but Shinya Aoki is the best jujitsu practitioner in mixed martial arts. There are masters and there are Brazilian national champions, but Aoki is in a league of his own when it comes to submissions. 

Aoki doesn't technically have a championship, so Penn is awarded the No. 1 overall seed. The lightweight division is so stacked though that Jamie Varner, who is the WEC champion, is a No. 4 seed. When world champions are ranked that low, you know its the toughest division in mixed martial arts. 

Pool A: 

#1. BJ Penn

#2. Sean Sherk

#3. Josh Thomson

#4. Joe Stevenson

Pool B: 

#1. Shinya Aoki 

#2. Diego Sanchez

#3. Gilbert Melendez

#4. Jamie Varner

Pool C: 

#1. Eddie Alvarez

#2. Joachim Hansen

#3. Takanori Gomi

#4. Tyson Griffin

Pool D: 

#1. Kenny Florian

#2. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti

#3. Tatsuya Kawajiri

#4. Mitsuhiro Ishida

As always, here is the breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: Penn is clearly one of the best fighters in the world, even though he was demolished by Georges St. Pierre. When it comes to fighting at 155 pounds though, there are not many who can hang with him. Sean Sherk is the strongest man at lightweight hands down and that makes him difficult for anyone to handle. Josh Thomson is aggressive and one of the hardest guys to beat because he won't ever give up. Joe Stevenson is a great wrestler and jujitsu player, but he has struggled since moving up in competition. 

Pool B: Aoki is the best jujitsu practitioner in mixed martial arts in any weight class. He has earned the nickname "Gumby" because of his mind boggling flexibility. Diego Sanchez is a huge 155 pounder. He started his career at middleweight, so he packs some power and pushes the pace. Gilbert Melendez has been tagged as the fighter to lead the lightweight division into the future, but Thomson and Ishida slowed him down. Jamie Varner is the WEC champion and a tremendous striker, but needs to keep fighting tough competition like Donald Cerrone. 

Pool C: It is a crime — a total, complete crime — that Alvarez is not in the UFC. He is a top American fighter making his name overseas and would be easy to market, unlike some of the top Japanese fighters. Joachim Hansen fights only the best and is a super dangerous kickboxer. Takanori Gomi was considered the best lightweight in the world, but recent losses have made him fall from grace. Tyson Griffin is a cardio machine and a great wrestler. 

Pool D: Kenny Florian is the No. 1 contender to the UFC title and a great Muay Thai fighter that knows how to finish when it hits the mat. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti is one of the smoothest fighters I have ever seen as he transitions from striking to grappling with ease. Tatsuya Kawajiri is a strong, strong man and lives up to his nickname of "Crusher." Mitsuhiro Ishida is tough to put away with most of his fights ending in a decision. 

In such a talented weight class, there are many fighters that could have made an argument to be included so I will just list them off instead of giving reasons. 

The snubbed: Roger Huerta, Nick Diaz, Clay Guida, Spencer Fisher, Gray Maynard, Hermes Franca, KJ Noons and Chris Horodecki among many others.

Results will be posted later.

March Madness: Can't Shield Off The Upset

She may not be as tough as Georges St. Pierre, but Jake Shields shocks the world and wins the welterweight tournament. 

Well it's a little late, but here are the results of the welterweight tournament. A quick warning: it's a big surprise, but there is always one shocker in March Madness and this is the weight class where it happens. 

Pool A: #1. Georges St. Pierre vs. #4. Karo Parisyan

Out of all the tournaments so far, I honestly think this is the biggest mismatch in a first round. These two have met in the past and GSP was clearly the better fighter back then. His tremendous improvement with Parisyan's lackluster showings is a combination for disaster for "The Heat." St. Pierre wins by any way he chooses. 

Pool A: #2. Josh Koscheck vs #3. Mike Swick

Now this is a matchup. Classic wrestler vs striker matchup here, but the problem is Koscheck wants to be a striker so badly that he often forgets to wrestle. I think Koscheck's ego gets the better of him as he tries to exchange leather with the super quick Swick who walks away with a knockout victory. 

Pool Championship: Georges St. Pierre vs Mike Swick

Down the road, I would love to see this matchup, but I don't think Swick is ready yet. Swick has looked a tad star struck when he fights big name opponents. I think his striking is good enough to compete with GSP, but St. Pierre's ability to get takedowns at will would be too much and St. Pierre wins via submission. 

Pool B: #1. Jake Shields vs #4. Marcus Davis

Shields draws one of the most dangerous strikers in the game with Davis, but Shields is smart enough and definitely good enough to overcome it. I think Davis comes out aggressive as always, but Shields would waste no time taking the fight to the mat and submitting Davis. 

Pool B: #2. Nick Thompson vs #3. Jay Hieron

This is a tough one to call. Hieron is a great athlete and an explosive fighter, but Thompson is veteran savvy and has fought stiffer competition. I think it's that experience that gives Thompson the slight edge as he is able stop Hieron's hot streak and walk away with a decision.

 

Pool Championship: Jake Shields vs Nick Thompson 

This is a rematch of the Elite XC Welterweight Championship match. I think Thompson makes it a closer fight than last time but Shields is still too good on the ground and no matter how much Thompson struggles to survive, Shields will catch him in a submission again.

Pool C: #1. Carlos Condit vs #4. Matt Serra

WEC champion meets former UFC champion in this intriguing matchup. Serra is a highly regarded jujitsu practitioner and has a deadly right hand, while Condit is just flat out mean. Condit's aggression is hard to handle and I think he overwhelms Serra in a flurry of Muay Thai offense. 

Pool C: #2. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs #3. Matt Hughes

The two biggest legends in the welterweight division square off. The two fought all the way back in 2002 where Hughes won a grueling contest in four rounds. This time though, it has been Hughes who has slowly digressed and I think Sakurai is still dangerous. I think Mach wins the rematch, which would lead to a hopeful third meeting one day.

Pool Championship: Carlos Condit vs Hayato "Mach" Sakurai

If this fight happened two years ago I would say Sakurai gets the victory. But Condit's youth and his will to be the best would be enough to take down the Japanese legend. Sakurai would give Condit fits early with physical striking, but Condit would get the fight on the ground and use his long limbs to lock in a submission. 

Pool D: #1. Thiago Alves vs #4. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson

Johnson is a really special athlete, but Alves is a really special fighter. Johnson may be champion one day, but I don't think anyone has figured out how to handle Alves' pure power yet. He even made Hughes fall into a fetal position as overwhelmed him with powerful kicks. So I got Alves by knockout. 

Pool D: #2. Jon Fitch vs #3. Brock Larson

Larson gets underrated quite a bit, but Fitch is a monster. He is one of the best wrestlers in the division and seems to win every fight by ground-and-pound. While Larson is always dangerous on the ground, I think Fitch overpowers him and pounds out a win. 

Pool Championship: Thiago Alves vs Jon Fitch

Fitch beat the young Alves three years ago, but a lot has changed since then. Alves has started to realize his full potential and I think he gets his payback. Alves would use the same strategy GSP used when he fought Fitch and methodically pick apart the former Purdue wrestler with his excellent striking. 

Semifinal: #1. Georges St. Pierre vs #1. Jake Shields

So there are four No. 1 seeds in the finals, but I said it would be shocking and here is where it happens. I can't argue Shields is better than GSP, but there is always a shock and I think Shields has the tools necessary to pull off an upset. GSP would pick apart Shields on the feet, get comfortable and then take him down and work from the guard. GSP would make one false move and Shields secures the armbar. 

Semifinal: #1. Carlos Condit vs #1. Thiago Alves

These fighters are virtually the same, the only difference being Alves' strength. With that being said, Alves should overpower Condit over three rounds of brutal action and walk away with a unanimous decision. 

Finals: #1. Jake Shields vs #1. Thiago Alves

Shields beat GSP so you can be sure he is going to finish the job and get the championship. Alves is a dangerous striker but there is almost no one who can hang with Shields when it comes to fighting on the ground. Shields gets the takedown, works from the guard and gets his submission.

Champion: Jake Shields

March Madness: The Welterweights

Will Georges St. Pierre be able to celebrate a "First Round March Madness" tournament championship?

Three champions crowned and two more to go. It's always easy to get off track with the actual March Madness happening, but I will do my best to give this welterweight tournament the attention it deserves.

The clear No. 1 in this field is Georges "Rush" St. Pierre. Just as the case in the heavyweight and middleweight divisions, St. Pierre is one of those freak athletes with an uncanny ability to exceed in every area of mixed martial arts. 

The Canadian has shown signs of mental weakness before though, as was the case in his loss to Matt Serra. He will face some stiff competition in this tournament and these men are capable of dethroning him. 

Six fighters from outside the UFC will be involved in this tournament with two of them gaining No. 1 seeds, showing once again there is top talent the UFC could still sign. 

Pool A

#1. Georges St. Pierre

#2. Josh Koscheck

#3. Mike Swick

#4. Karo Parisyan 

Pool B

#1. Jake Shields

#2. Nick Thompson

#3. Jay Hieron

#4. Marcus Davis

Pool C

#1. Carlos Condit

#2. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai

#3. Matt Hughes

#4. Matt Serra

Pool D

#1. Thiago Alves

#2. Jon Fitch

#3. Brock Larson

#4. Anthony Johnson

Here is the breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: Clearly St. Pierre is the best welterweight in the world right now and if he keeps improving at the rate he is going, he might be the best of all time. Koscheck is a little controversial at the two spot, especially with his recent loss. His tremendous athleticism and wrestling always makes him a threat. Swick is a special talent with blinding hand speed. Parisyan is a top judoka, but his last few performances have been uninspired and he is lucky to make it.

Pool B: I can't say enough about Jake Shields. His wrestling and jujitsu are top notch and his striking keeps improving. There is a reason he always has a championship on his waist. Nick Thompson is 14-1 in his last 15 fights with his lone loss coming to Shields. Jay Hieron is making noise and dominated the IFL. His athleticism is starting to shine through. Marcus Davis is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet and knocks almost everyone out. 

Pool C: The nickname "Natural Born Killer" is no joke when talking about Carlos Condit. It's hard to describe how violent Condit can be. It has to be seen to be appreciated. "Mach" Sakurai is a true legend of the sport and is still competitive despite getting up in age. At 34-8, he has to be respected. Speaking of legends, Matt Hughes is the greatest of all-time. He's not the fighter he once was, but 42-7 gets you a 3-seed in my book. Serra has always been underrated and as former champion, he deserves a spot in the tourney. 

Pool D: Thiago Alves is the No. 1 contender and I don't know if you have seen his leg kicks, but he could knock a tree down with those kicks. He is a dangerous threat to St. Pierre's title. Jon Fitch is one of the best wrestlers in MMA and is one of the toughest and most conditioned athletes. Brock Larson could seem like a surprise, but he is 24-2 and has only lost to Fitch and Condit. That's impressive. Anthony Johnson is in the tournament based completely on potential and athleticism. I'm not sure I have ever seen a bigger welterweight. 

The snubbed: As previously stated, Johnson is in the tournament on potential and Parisyan on reputation. Two men who could make an argument to get in the tournament are Paulo Thiago and Dong Hyun Kim. Thiago surprised everyone with his win over Koscheck and is 11-0 now. He could be a future star. In my opinion, Kim won the fight against Parisyan, but at least it was overturned to a no contest instead of a loss. I think Kim has all the tools to challenge for the title one day. 

Results of the tournament will be up later tonight. 

March Madness: Caught in a Spider's web

Anderson Silva once again on the top of the world as he blazes through "The First Round March Madness" middleweight tournament

Don't act like you're surprised. Here is the breakdown of how Anderson "The Spider" Silva once again proved his dominance.

Pool A: #1. Anderson Silva vs #4. Denis Kang

Kang has all the potential in the world and is very dangerous on the ground. The problem is so is Silva. But the real problem is Kang loses focus as he did against Alan Belcher when he got caught with a submission. There is no way that should have happened, but it means Silva could easily catch him. Silva wins by knockout though. 

Pool A: #2. Michael Bisping vs #3. Thales Leites

This is the fight that should happen before Leites gets his title shot. I think Leites is very skilled, but Bisping is a big middleweight and fights at a blistering pace. His cardio and pace would be too much for Leites and I think Bisping would overwhelm him and win with some ground-and-pound. 

Pool Championship: Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping

This is the fight Bisping has talked about ever since moving down in weight. The problem is he likes to utilize his Muay Thai and you don't want to do that against Silva. I think the fight would end up in a clinch and Silva is absolutely unbeatable in that position. Some wicked knees and punches would get Silva the win. 

Pool B: #1. Gegard Mousasi vs #4. Jason "Mayhem" Miller

This one would be a war, because it always is with Miller. Mousasi is skilled in every area and reminds me a lot of a Georges St. Pierre type fighter. Miller is very smart and crafty though and I think both men would each have moments of having the upper hand. In the end though, Mousasi is too good and would win on the scorecards. 

Pool B: #2. Paulo Filho vs #3. Vitor Belfort

Fihlo is a big middleweight and Belfort used to fight heavyweights, so this one would be physical. Filho is super dangerous on the ground, but I think Belfort has found his speed again and would be unable to unleash a lightening fast combination on the often uninspired Filho. The older fighter gets the upset and Belfort moves on after a knockout. 

Pool Championship: Gegard Mousasi vs Vitor Belfort

Belfort's weakness has been against great wrestlers and counter punchers. Mousasi does both of those well. I think Belfort would get over anxious and show off his hand speed, but get caught with a counter that would drop him. After that I think Mousasi takes his time and works him over on the ground for a ground-and-pound win. 

Pool C: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #4. Benji Radach

Radach is a physical fighter that likes to bring everything including the kitchen sink. Lawler can do his share of brawling but he is much more technical and would use that to his advantage. I think Lawler sprawl-and-brawls his way to a victory after stuffing the takedown attempts of Radach. 

Pool C: #2. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs #3. Matt Lindland

Souza has looked impressive compiling a 10-2 record but the hardest thing for inexperienced fighters to handle is a strong wrestler. I think Lindland wouldn't waste time playing games on his feet and would take Souza down with authority and try to smother him with elbows and punches. I think Lindland has to work hard but walks away with a decision. 

Pool Championship: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #3. Matt Lindland

This would be a great fight. Lindland has gassed bad in his recent fights at times, but if he paces himself just right, he has all the tools necessary to beat Lawler. Lawler could get frustrated if he is not able to knockout Lindland after landing a few hard shots. After that, I think Lindland takes over as punishes Lawler on the ground to win a decision. 

Pool D: #1. Demian Maia vs #4. Nate Marquardt

This fight could actually happen down the line. The more Marquardt trains with St. Pierre, the more he starts to fight like him, which is a scary thought since Marquardt was already a beast. With that being said, Maia has made his opponents pay anytime the fight hits the floor and I think he gets the biggest win of his career over Marquardt via submission.

Pool D: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Yushin Okami

Okami is going to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means wrestling his opponent to the ground and holding him there. But Le is explosive and one of the best strikers in the world when he puts it all together. To give an example, he knocked out an opponent with a kick to the body and broke Frank Shamrock's arm with his striking and physicality. I think Le overpowers Okami and knocks him out. 

Pool Championship: Demian Maia vs Cung Le

It's hard to tell what either of these man can fully do. Maia is 10-0 and Le is 6-0. Something has to give and I would say it would be Maia. At the end of the day, Le is strong enough to get to his feet if the fight hits the mat and Maia has to get better at his striking while Le could end the fight in one kick or punch at anytime. Le by knockout. 

Semifinal: #1. Anderson Silva vs #1. Gegard Mousasi

Mousasi is a very smart fighter and he knows how to survive. He likes to retreat at times though and while that seems smart against Silva, all you have to do is ask Rich Franklin to find out thats a mistake. I think Silva could get a Thai clinch and deliver his deadly knees to floor Mousasi. 

Semifinal: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Matt Lindland

These two are physical and punishing fighters. Lindland does it on the ground and Le on the feet. As I stated earlier, in Lindlands most recent loss to Belfort, he seemed to gas after getting caught with a punch. Le is just as powerful if not more so than Belfort and I think he could catch Lindland with a kick as he comes in for a takedown. 

Final: #1. Anderson Silva vs #2. Cung Le

The young Le gets an early test against the master of fighting. Le is eerily similar to Silva with his devastating striking, but Silva has a jujitsu black belt and is very good on the ground. I think Le would surprise people and go toe-to-toe with Silva and be competitive with neither man getting the advantage. The fight would hit the floor and Silva would lock in the submission and prove he is the best fighter in the world once again. 

Champion: Anderson "The Spider" Silva

March Madness: The Middleweights

The middleweight tournament begins to see if anyone can stop Anderson Silva (who knocked out James Irvin with his eyes closed and his back to him apparently.)

Fedor Emelianenko and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua have danced their way through "The First Round March Madness Tournament" and have won the championship in their respective weight division. 

Today's featured division is the middleweights, where one man clearly stands above the rest. Anderson "The Spider" Silva is considered the undisputed best fighter at 185 pounds and the best fighter in the world regardless of weight. 

He has torn through the UFC middleweight division, which as you will see in a second is pretty weak for the most part. Of the 16 fighters in this tournament, only 7 are from the UFC. That's not a terrible number, but I would love to see Silva take on some of the guys that are going to be in this tournament. 

A quick disclaimer before I unveil the pools. Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin ARE NOT in the tournament because their last fight was in the light heavyweight division. I am trying my best just to include current middleweight fighters. So even though Henderson is moving down, he is excluded. 

Pool A

#1. Anderson Silva

#2. Michael Bisping

#3. Thales Leites 

#4. Denis Kang

Pool B

#1. Gegard Mousasi

#2. Paulo Filho

#3. Vitor Belfort

#4. Jason Miller

Pool C

#1. Robbie Lawler

#2. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza

#3. Matt Lindland

#4. Benji Radach

Pool D

#1. Demian Maia

#2. Cung Le

#3. Yushin Okami

#4. Nate Marquardt

Heres a little breakdown of each pool.

Pool A: As stated earlier, Anderson Silva is the clear cut No. 1 fighter in this division and probably the world. Michael Bisping was always a good fighter at light heavyweight, but since coming down in weight he has looked even more explosive and deadly. Thales Leites is the No. 1 contender for Silva's strap and while I think it is a little early, he is 14-1. Denis Kang is loaded with potential and is dominant at times, but he slipped to a 4-seed after losing his UFC debut. 

Pool B: Gegard Mousasi is just a winner plain and simple. 24-2 and the DREAM middleweight grand prix champion. He is the real deal. Paulo Filho was tagged as the man to beat Silva, but a loss to Chael Sonnen put those talks to an end. Filho is still extremely good and has only one loss. Vitor Belfort has incredible hand speed and has defeated top fighters from heavyweights to middleweights. Jason Miller is a tough guy that never gives up. He fights the best around and is always competitive. 

Pool C: Robbie Lawler holds a title, which he means he gets a 1-seed. He is one of the best on his feet and his takedown defense is top-notch after training with Matt Hughes. Ronaldo Souza is a jujitsu ace and made it to the finals of DREAM's grand prix before losing to Mousasi. He is 10-2 and has a bright future. Matt Lindland was the best in the world at one time and an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling. Benji Radach won all but one fight in the IFL and has a win over Murilo Rua. Another tough out at 19-4.

Pool D: Some may say its too early to give Demian Maia a 1-seed, but a 10-0 record with eight submissions is impressive. His ground game could be the best in the world when it comes to MMA. Cung Le is undefeated and for all I know he might never lose, but his inactivity gave him a 2-seed. Yushin Okami is a punisher, and while not always exciting he wins a lot. He is 7-1 in the UFC and its time he gets a shot. Nate Marquardt is very experienced and his domination in Pancrase has to be seen. Wins by a flying knee and broken arm are always impressive. 

The snubbed: Murilo "Ninja" Rua, the brother of Mauricio Rua, has a lot of talent but always seems to lose when he fights the elite competitors. Chael Sonnen has a win over Paulo Filho, but 10 losses, including three to Jeremy Horn, keep him out. Joey Villasenor is a fighter I really enjoy and I think he is one big win away from making a tournament like this. 

As always, I will post a full breakdown of the tournament a little later in the day.